Arrest of Traffic Offenders is ‘Violation of Law’: Official

Rabat - Mohammed Abdennabaoui, president of the Prosecutor General's Office, has ordered all public prosecutors to prepare, within one week, a detailed report on “the arrest and physical coercion for the settlement of traffic violations,” after several citizens complained about that on social media.

Rabat – Mohammed Abdennabaoui, president of the Prosecutor General’s Office, has ordered all public prosecutors to prepare, within one week, a detailed report on “the arrest and physical coercion for the settlement of traffic violations,” after several citizens complained about that on social media.

In recent days, citizens have taken to social networks to speak out against the arrest of people who have not paid their fines for traffic offenses.

According to several posts, motorcycle drivers found themselves handcuffed for unpaid fines.

Abdennabaoui reacted to citizens’ complaints and issued a statement on February 8 clarifying citizen’s rights.

In some cases, such as the accumulation of unpaid and repetitive fines, prosecutors can exercise “coercive constraint” on offenders. But, this procedure is tightly controlled by law, Abdennabaoui, said.

Offenders must be informed of the judgment legally and can only be arrested starting 30 days after the warning is issued. Public prosecutors also need a judge’s agreement before exercising coercion.

Abdennabaoui said that this practice is “an infringement of the legal procedures” in the penal code.